E30 320i se. Starting problems.

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noddynomad
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Post Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:33 pm

Hi.

Basically, my car is having trouble cold starting. It does get started and runs well once going but takes a few seconds and a bit of accelerator pushing to get it going. I've checked for leaks as I thought/hoped it would be something as simple as a leak causing it to lose pressure while sat. I can't find anything of the sort.

Next resort was to remove and clean the injectors but don't want to be messing about with them if I don't have too basically.

I've read the wiki on a related subject and it said to replace the fuel pressure regulator.

Before I go replacing stuff anything else to check?

Cheers,
James
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kam-325i
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Post Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:36 pm

when its up and running, and up to temp, how does it then run ?
Pete don't care about colour, He would shag a rainbow if he could find the end of it....
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noddynomad
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Post Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:44 pm

Runs well all the way up and pulls well too.

James.
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kam-325i
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Post Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:00 pm

what year is the car/engine ?
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:02 pm

Stop messing replacing random parts, which is just likely to introduce more faults, and buy yourself a £10 fuel pressure gauge off of ebay. You'll need a six inch length of fuel hose to go with it as well.
Connect it up, and see what happens to the fuel pressure after the engine is stopped.
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noddynomad
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Post Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:09 pm

Car and engine are '90 with 65000 miles on the clock.

Where would I link up said pipe? Sorry got little to no knowledge on fuel injection.

James.
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:22 pm

noddynomad wrote:Where would I link up said pipe? Sorry got little to no knowledge on fuel injection.
Two 13mm diameter rubber hoses run from the back left hand corner of the engine bay to the inlet side of the engine. One goes to the fuel pressure regulator, and the other goes direct to the fuel rail. Disconnect the one that goes to the fuel rail, attach the hose to the tee piece of the gauge, that connect your six inch of new pipe between the other branch of the tee piece and the fuel rail.
Later engines have a Shrader (tyre) valve on the fuel rail for the easy connection of a gauge, but no such luxury on an E30.
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noddynomad
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Post Tue Nov 18, 2014 9:34 pm

Brilliant. Thanks very much for the swift replies. Am I just looking for a hold in the pressure in the rail?

James.
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Nov 18, 2014 10:30 pm

If it doesn't hold pressure, you can determine just where the problem is by clamping hoses.
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